You must be a U.S. citizen, legally present in the U.S., or an alien eligible for public benefits to qualify for compensation benefits. Proof of this must be provided for BOTH the claimant AND the victim.

If You are a U.S. Citizen

Please provide the Commission with a copy of one of the following documents:

  • A birth certificate issued in or by a city, county, state, or other governmental entity within the United States or its outlying possessions
  • A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (FS-545, DS-135) or a Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (FS-240)
  • A birth certificate or passport issued from:
  • Puerto Rico, on or after January 13, 1941
  • U.S. Virgin Islands, on or after February 25, 1927
  • American Samoa
  • District of Columbia
  • Guam, on or after April 10, 1898
  • Northern Mariana Islands, after November 4,1986
  • Swains Island
  • An unexpired U.S. passport
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-57, N-578)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, N-645)
  • U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179, I-197)
  • Free Alabama Photo Voter Identification Card

If the Commission is not satisfied with the authenticity of a copy of one of the above-listed documents, it may request that the original or a certified copy be submitted for inspection. If you obtain(ed) your birth certificate after the date of your victimization, the Commission will reimburse you for the cost of the birth certificate if your claim is approved. The Commission does not reimburse for passports.

If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen

Please provide the Commission with a copy of one of the following documents and positive verification in the (SAVE) system as proof of legal presence:

  • I-327 (Reentry Permit)
  • I-551 (Permanent Resident Card)
  • I-571 (Refugee Travel Document)
  • I-766 (Employment Authorization Card)
  • Certificate of Citizenship
  • Naturalization Certificate
  • Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (with Temporary I-551 Language)
  • Temporary I-551 Stamp (on Passport or I-94)
  • I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
  • I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) in Unexpired Foreign Passport
  • Unexpired Foreign Passport
  • I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status)
  • DS2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status)

Documents not included in this list will be examined on a case-by-case basis. Your legal presence will be verified by the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.

To Be Considered Lawfully Present in the U.S.

Please provide a copy of one of the following documents to the Commission for inspection:

  • A valid, unexpired Alabama driver's license.
  • A valid, unexpired Alabama non-driver identification card.
  • A valid tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal identification bearing a photograph or other biometric identifier.
  • Any valid United States federal or state government issued identification document bearing a photograph or other
    biometric identifier, if issued by an entity that requires proof of lawful presence in the United States before issuance.

If the Commission is not satisfied with the authenticity of a copy of one of the above-listed documents, it may request that the original or a certified copy be submitted for inspection. The Commission can only provide compensation benefits to U.S. citizens, individuals legally present in the U.S., and aliens eligible for public benefits. Victims of domestic violence and certified victims of human trafficking are considered to be aliens eligible for public benefits.